Prunus plant named ‘SPC411’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Prunus avium  tree named ‘SPC411’ that is characterized by its fruit that is large and very firm with a desirable appearance, its fruit with a low level of natural splitting, its fruit with good storage potential in regular air MAP bag, and its flowers that are self-fertile.

Botanical classification: Prunus avium.

Variety denomination: ‘SPC411’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Prunusavium and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘SPC411’.‘SPC411’ is a new cultivar of sweet cherry tree grown for fruitproduction.

The new cultivar of Prunus arose from a breeding program conducted bythe Inventor at a research centre in Summerland, B.C., Canada with thegoal of developing a new cultivar of cherry tree with improved fruitappearance, taste, firmness, flesh texture, productivity, precocity,harvest timing, and split resistance with improved tree quality anddisease resistance.

The new cultivar arose from open pollination of ‘SPC103’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 26,645) in 1997. The male parent is therefore unknown. TheInventor selected ‘SPC411’ as a single unique plant amongst theresulting seedlings in 2002.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished bybudding onto Mazzard rootstock (not patented) under the direction of theInventor in Summerland, B.C., Canada in 2003. Asexual propagation bybudding has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar arestable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘SPC411’ as a unique cultivar of cherry tree.

-   1. ‘SPC411’ exhibits fruit that is large and very firm with a    desirable appearance.-   2. ‘SPC411’ exhibits fruit with a low level of natural splitting.-   3. ‘SPC411’ exhibits fruit with good storage potential in regular    air MAP (Modified Atmosphere packaging) bag.-   4. ‘SPC411’ exhibits flowers that are self-fertile.

The female parent, ‘SPC103’, differs from ‘SPC411’ in having a muchlater harvest time and fruits that are less firm. ‘SPC411’ can be mostclosely compared to the cultivars ‘Sweetheart’ (not patented) and‘13S2009’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,551). ‘Sweetheart’ is similar to‘SPC411’ in harvest timing. ‘Sweetheart’ differs from ‘SPC411’ in havingfruits that are smaller in size, much less firm, and a higher rate ofnatural splitting. ‘13S2009’ is similar to ‘SPC411’ in having dark redcherries with excellent eating quality and self-fertile flowers.‘13S2009’ differs from ‘SPC411’ in having a much later harvest time, anearlier blooming period, and larger fruit with a higher percentage ofnatural splitting.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosure included but may not be limited to awebsite listing by ANFIC Fruit Variety Catalogue (as a trial variety).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photograph illustrates the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of ‘SPC411’ on an 18-year-old tree as grown ina trial plot in Summerland, B.C., Canada.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of a cluster of fruit of‘SPC411’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of‘SPC411’.

The colors in the photograph are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the cherry tree.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 18-year-old trees as grown ina trial plot in Summerland, B.C., Canada. The phenotype of the newcultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, andcultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withThe 2001 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous fruit bearing tree.        -   Plant habit.—Upright and spreading with medium crown            density.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 4 m in height and about 2.4            m in spread when grown on Mazzard rootstock in a 2.4 m by            4.5 m training pattern.        -   Cold hardiness.—To at least U.S.D.A. Zone 6.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, freely branched.        -   Propagation.—Budding onto Mazzard rootstock.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate to vigorous.-   Trunk description:    -   -   Size of trunk.—26 cm in diameter measured 30 cm above soil            level.        -   Bark color.—187A.        -   Bark texture.—Smooth (80%) with horizontal rough lenticels            that are 187A in color, roughened (20%) that is 198B in            color.        -   Tree branching.—Medium to strong.-   Description of dormant shoots (one year-old):    -   -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Shoot size.—Average of 58.4 cm in length and 1.12 cm in            width at basal end.        -   Anthocyanin presence.—None.        -   Thickness of shoot at center of middle internode.—Medium,            average of 8.1 mm.        -   Bark color.—165A, lenticels 163D, larger branches can have            short longitudinal striations of 188D.        -   Shoot angle.—Erect.        -   Lenticels.—An average of 7.8 per square cm.        -   Branch internode length.—Average of 3.4 cm.        -   Vegetative buds.—Large in size, 4.7 mm in length, 3.6 mm            width, conical to round in shape, adpressed and held            slightly out from shoot, support is medium.-   Description of growing shoots:    -   -   Color of growing tip of shoot.—144B.        -   Pubescence of shoots tip.—None.        -   Anthocyanin presence.—None.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic tending towards cuneate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Acute.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate at very tip.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf burst.—Early in the beginning of full flowering.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, not prominent, same as leaf color            with the midrib on upper surface and lower surface 145C in            color, no anthocyanins.        -   Leaf margins.—Biserrate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Slightly concave and held horizontal to oblique            downward in relation to shoot.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous and slightly glossy on upper surface            and weakly to moderately pubescent on lower surface.        -   Leaf size.—Mature leaves average of 16.6 cm in length and            7.5 cm in width.        -   Leaf internodes.—Average of 4.7 cm in length.        -   Leaf color.—Newly expanded leaves upper and lower surface;            174B and 139C around the spine, veins, and serration tips,            mature leaves upper and lower surface; 137A.        -   Petioles.—Average of 4 cm in length and 2.3 mm in width,            front of petiole 187A in color and back of petiole 145A in            color, glabrous surface.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Mid-late; during sweet cherry bloom period            in Summerland BC, Canada.        -   Inflorescence type.—Clusters of single flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—An average of 5 days.        -   Flower fragrance.—Very slight vegetative/floral scent.        -   Flower quantity.—2 per inflorescence.        -   Flower type.—Rotate corolla above an elongated calyx with            stamens and pistil extended.        -   Flower size.—Average of 3.5 cm in diameter.        -   Calyx.—Comprised of sepals fused into an ovoid base with            un-fused portions spreading at apex.        -   Sepals.—5, 146D in color with anthocyanins 187A, glabrous            surface, about 6.5 mm in length with un-fused portions about            4 mm in width, entire glandular margin, attenuate apex,            fused base.        -   Petals.—5, broadly elliptic in shape, un-fused, thin and            papery substance, smooth margin, rounded base, emarginate            apex, about 1.52 cm in length and 1.1 cm in width, both            surfaces 155D in color.        -   Pedicels.—Average of 1.71 cm in length, 1.3 mm in width,            146D in color, glabrous surface.        -   Rachis.—Glabrous surface, flowers lightly compacted with            whorled arrangement.        -   Nectaries.—Present.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1.6 cm in length and <1 mm in width            extending beyond perianth, style; 151A in color, 1.57 cm in            length and <1 mm in width, stigma and style together; 1.31            cm in length and <1 mm diameter, 152C in color, ovary is            superior, glabrous and 144B in color.        -   Androecium.—Stamens; 38, base adnate to calyx, filaments;            155D in color, 1.39 cm in length and <1 mm in width,            anthers; 163A in color, dorsifixed, pollen is abundant in            quantity and 162B in color, nectaries; 2, kidney-shaped, 46A            in color.        -   Fertility.—Self-fertile.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Fruit type.—Drupe.        -   Fruit shape.—Oblate with slight reniform.        -   Fruit apex.—Flat with slight end divot, low susceptibility            to rain induced cracking.        -   Fruit size.—Large, 2.7 cm in length and 2.4 cm in width.        -   Fruit firmness.—Very firm.        -   Fruit set.—Medium to high.        -   Fruit stalk.—Medium length and medium in thickness; 4.6 cm            in length and 1.4 mm in width, surface fine with            longitudinal striations, color 145A.        -   Fruit bearing.—Intermediate precocity.        -   No. of fruit per cluster.—In groups of 3.        -   Skin color.—Between 202A and 187A when ripe with light            colored dots.        -   Harvest date.—Late; Average of July 26^(th) in Summerland,            BC, Canada.        -   Skin surface.—Glossy and glabrous.        -   Skin suture.—Medium prominence.        -   Flesh color.—60A.        -   Juice.—Moderate juiciness, 187A in color.        -   Flesh texture.—Fleshy, moderately juicy.        -   Apex scar.—An average of 1 mm in diameter, 166D in color.        -   Flavor.—Medium sweetness.        -   Weight.—10.4 g.        -   Brix.—20.5%.        -   Acidity.—14.3 TA (ml of NaOH).        -   Fruit use.—Fresh fruit.        -   Storage life.—Up to +6 weeks at 1° C.        -   Seeds.—1 stone per berry, 159A in color, medium in size;            average of 11.2 mm in length and 1.04 cm in width, medium in            comparison to fruit, shape; lateral view is symmetrical,            slightly adherent to flesh, front view is broadly elliptic,            basal view is round, keel is strongly developed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Prunus tree named‘SPC411’ as herein illustrated and described.